Israel Approves $334 Million Plan to Expand Settlements in Golan Heights
Israel has officially approved a five-year development plan valued at approximately $334 million (1 billion shekels) to expand illegal settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. The initiative, scheduled for implementation from 2026 to 2030, aims to strengthen infrastructure and significantly increase the Israeli population in the territory. A primary objective is transforming the settlement of Katzrin into the region's first city by enhancing academic and medical facilities, including a new university branch and veterinary hospital. Officials project the arrival of 3,000 new Israeli families by the end of the decade. This decision follows recent meetings between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and local council leaders. The move has drawn international criticism, as the Golan Heights are recognized under international law as Syrian territory occupied since 1967. Tensions have escalated following Israel's recent seizure of a buffer zone in southern Syria after the 2024 ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, with critics accusing Israel of violating the 1974 ceasefire and exploiting regional instability to annex land.
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Israel Approves $334 Million Plan to Expand Settlements in Golan Heights
Israel has officially approved a five-year development plan valued at approximately $334 million (1 billion shekels) to expand illegal settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. The initiative, scheduled for implementation from 2026 to 2030, aims to strengthen infrastructure and significantly increase the Israeli population in the territory. A primary objective is transforming the settlement of Katzrin into the region's first city by enhancing academic and medical facilities, including a new university branch and veterinary hospital. Officials project the arrival of 3,000 new Israeli families by the end of the decade. This decision follows recent meetings between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and local council leaders. The move has drawn international criticism, as the Golan Heights are recognized under international law as Syrian territory occupied since 1967. Tensions have escalated following Israel's recent seizure of a buffer zone in southern Syria after the 2024 ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, with critics accusing Israel of violating the 1974 ceasefire and exploiting regional instability to annex land.
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